Solemnity of All Saints

(11/01/2026) Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:1-12

" What Is the Greatest Rule of Life? "

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

From the desk of Fr. Leo

     If you think our readings this weekend are readings that we religious leaders need to reflect on, you are right. But in some ways, they contain lessons for anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian.

     My article this weekend consists of two or three different thoughts that occurred to me when I read this weekend's scriptures. Jesus in the gospel is condemning phoniness. One of my friends who is a truly spiritual person shared with me that someone told her she was a phony. She felt hurt by the comment. I told her, we are all phonies to some extent, in that we all fail at times to live up to our ideals, or values and our principles. The important thing is that we are honest with ourselves, that we recognize when we are being phony and make every effort to be better. Part of being honest means being open to feedback others give us about ourselves, no matter who says it or whether we like it or not. Whenever a person says something that hurts, we should examine it to see if there is any truth in what was said and if there was, we should try to benefit from it. Jesus, while He condemned the Pharisees and the scribes for their phoniness, told the people that they should follow what they say, because the scribes and Pharisees were speaking truth as they taught God's word, even though they were not living it.

     Sometimes we have to teach others what is right or wrong, while we are not so perfect ourselves. But we have to realize that we teach not only by what we say. There is a story about a father who punished one of his children for smoking and using foul language. But he smoked and used bad language himself. He was right in trying to guide his child correctly, but he will probably not be very effective. Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear.

     On a slightly different topic: one of the frequent excuses people use who do not go to church is that they don't want to be with all those phonies. Why should a person deprive themselves of the graces of the Mass because of what they judge someone else to be or to do? I have talked to people who have quit going to church since the scandal of priest sexual abuse. There is no excuse for what some priests have done, but that doesn’t mean all priests are bad, or that going to church now has no value.

     On the other hand, we have to keep remembering that any of us who call ourselves Christians can lead people toward Christ or away from him by our lives. Mahatma Gandhi put it very forcefully when he said: “I like your Christ, but I don't like your Christians because you Christians are so unlike your Christ.” For better or for worse, it's not just priests, but all of us, who show the face of Christ to others.

Meditation: Who doesn't desire the praise and respect of others? We want others to see us at our best with all of our strengths and achievements - rather than at our worst with all of our faults and shortcomings. God sees us as we truly are - sinners and beggars always in need of his mercy, help, and guidance.

Misguided zeal and pride
Jesus warned the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers and rulers of Israel, to teach and serve their people with humility and sincerity rather than with pride and self-seeking privileges and honor. They went to great lengths to draw attention to their religious status and practices. In a way they wanted to be good models of observant Jews. "See how well we observe all the ritual rules and regulations of our religion!" In their misguided zeal for religion they sought recognition and honor for themselves rather than for God. They made the practice of their faith a burden rather than a joy for the people they were supposed to serve.

True respect for God inclines us to humble ourselves and to submit to his wisdom and guidance. We cannot be taught by God unless we first learn to listen to his word and then obey his instruction.

One Father and Teacher
Was Jesus against calling anyone a rabbi, the Jewish title for a teacher of God's word (Matthew 23:7-8), or a father? The law of Moses in Scripture specifically instructed all fathers to be teachers and instructors for their children to help them understand and obey God's instructions (Deuteronomy 6:7)? Why did Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees, the religious authorities of the Jewish people, in the presence of his disciples? Jesus wanted to warn both his own disciples and the religious leaders about the temptation to seek honors and titles that draw attention to ourselves in place of God and his word. Pride tempts us to put ourselves first above others.

The Scriptures give ample warning about the danger of self-seeking pride: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; Proverbs 3:24).

Origen (185-254 AD), an early Christian teacher and bible scholar, reminds those who teach and lead to remember that they are first and foremost "disciples" and "servants" who sit at the feet of their Master and Teacher the Lord Jesus Christ:

    "You have one teacher, and you are all brothers to each other...Whoever ministers with the divine word does not put himself forward to be called teacher, for he knows that when he performs well it is Christ who is within him. He should only call himself servant according to the command of Christ, saying, Whoever is greater among you, let him be the servant of all."


True humility
Respect for God and for his ways inclines us to humility and to simplicity of heart - the willing readiness to seek the one true good who is God himself. What is the nature of true humility and why should we embrace it as essential for our lives? We can easily mistake humility as something demeaning or harmful to our sense of well-being and feeling good about ourselves. True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to all others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves honestly, with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4).

A humble person makes a realistic assessment of oneself without illusion or pretense to be something one is not. A truly humble person regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than one truly is. True humility frees us to be ourselves as God regards us and to avoid falling into despair and pride. A humble person does not want to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others. Such a person is not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure. Do you know the joy of Christ-like humility and simplicity of heart?

Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues because it enables us to see and judge correctly, the way God sees. Humility helps us to be teachable so we can acquire true knowledge, wisdom, and an honest view of reality. It directs our energy, zeal, and will to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others willingly and selflessly, for their own sake, rather than for our own. Paul the Apostle gives us the greatest example and model of humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and... who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). Do you want to be a servant as Jesus loved and served others? The Lord Jesus gives us his heart - the heart of a servant who seeks the good of others and puts their interests first in his care and concern for them. 

Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfish pride and self-concern. Teach me to be humble as you are humble and to love others generously with selfless service and kindness.

read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

*** + ***